144 MHz Backpackers' Contest 8 June 2008

Operating from the ridge of the Hogs Back, the FDRS team used  an FT290r outputting 2.5w into a 6 element quad antenna 3m high.  We  made 25 contacts including Wales, Channel Islands, France and Belgium, generating 69,938 claimed points.

A great day's field operating in perfect weather conditions. Operating conditions were excellent with continental stations coming in from the moment we connected the antenna. In fact so taken off guard were we that we worked the first French station on just 500mW as the accumulator battery had still to be connected!! Special thanks go to Colin G8BCO for his supremely effective antenna system general management of the station and provision of the best bacon sandwiches in the South-East, to James M3XRU for provision comfortable shelter from the elements, and lastly to Julian (M3XPJ), Jack (M3SKJ) , Harry (M3XAI ) and Tom ( soon to be M6 we suspect!) Well done Tom for copious injection of humour, boundless energy and enthusiasm and the most professional and courteous operating in the FDRS team. 

NOTE. Equipment all functioned flawlessly, in spite of being three times older than our most junior operators, and multi-headphone set-up proved to be a definite improvement over previous Backpacker attempts.